"We are Legend; Ready on Arrival; The First, the Finest; Eight Reactors, None Faster."
- Motto of USS Enterprise (CVN-65)

USS Enterprise (CVN-65), formerly CVA(N)-65, is a retired US Navy aircraft carrier. She was the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth United States naval vessel to bear the name. Like her predecessor of World War II fame, she is nicknamed "Big E". At 1,123 ft (342 m), she is the longest naval vessel in the world. Her 93,284 long tons (94,781 t) displacement ranks her as the 11th-heaviest supercarrier, after the 10 carriers of the Nimitz class. Enterprise had a crew of some 4,600 people.

The only ship of her class, Enterprise, at the time of her decommissioning, was the second oldest commissioned vessel in the United States Navy after the wooden-hulled USS Constitution. She was originally scheduled for decommissioning in 2014 or 2015, depending on the life of her reactors and completion of her replacement, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), but the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 slated the ship's retirement for 2013, when she would have served for 51 consecutive years, longer than any other U.S. aircraft carrier.

Enterprise's home port was Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia as of September 2012. Her final deployment, the last before her decommissioning, began on March 10th, 2012, and ended November 4th, 2012. She was inactivated on December 1st, 2012, with her official decommissioning taking place sometime after the completion of an extensive terminal offload program currently underway. The name has been adopted by the future Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-80).

Enterprise is a commissioned navy ship, but is inactive. She has undergone enough of the four-year long inactivation process to render her unfit for further service. Inactivation removes fuel, fluids, furnishings, tools, fittings, oil, and de-energizes the electrical system. Enterprise has already been cut open to allow the removal of useable systems. On November 5th, 2001 off the coast of Afghanistan the sailors aboard the Enterprise spelled out E=MC X 40 in honor of the Enterprises 40th year of service.

Pictured here is a 1:700 scale replica of USS Enterprise (CVN-65). Sailors can be placed on deck to spell out E=MC2) or omitted from display for standard configuration. Sold Out!

Diorama Dimensions:
Length: 19-1/4-inches
Width: 4-1/4-inches
Height: 3-inches

Release Date: September 2014

Historical Account: "E=MC2" - The Enterprise, affectionately known as the Big E, left Naval Station Norfolk, Va., March 11th, 2012, as the flagship of a carrier strike group for the 5th Fleet area of operations. At 1,123 feet in length, the 94,000-ton Enterprise was the worlds first supercarrier, and is still the largest ship in the U.S. Navy.

Earlier this year, sailors and Marines of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG 12) participated in three major exercises in preparation for deployment, including COMPTUEX, a composite training unit exercise; a Joint Task Force Exercise; and the naval amphibious exercise Bold Alligator 2012.

During these exercises, the ship and air wing team were faced with a variety of scenarios to help prepare them for deployment, including launching aircraft in support of ground operations and protecting the strike group from surface, submarine, and air threats.